What does Acinonyx jubatus mean in Greek?

What does Acinonyx jubatus mean in Greek?

Scientific Name Etymology. Genus Acinonyx may be derived from the Greek words akaina meaning "a thorn" and onyx meaning "a claw" Specific epithet jubatus is Latin. Refers to long, dorsal hair (mantle) on juveniles and some adults.

Why is a cheetah called Acinonyx jubatus?

The genus name, Acinonyx, means "no-move-claw" in Greek, while the species name, jubatus, means "maned" in Latin, a reference to the mane found in cheetah cubs. It is one of only two cats that cannot completely retract their claws - the other being the Fishing Cat.

What did cheetahs evolve from?

Numerous molecular genetic studies suggest that the cheetah shares a common ancestor with the puma and jaguarundi, from which it diverged six to eight million years ago, probably in North America.

What is Cheetahs habitat?

Habitat: Cheetahs can live in a variety of habitats but prefer to live in grasslands and open plains.

Has a cheetah ever killed a human?

History with Humans Although the cheetah was once widespread and is a relatively large predator, there are no documented records of a wild cheetah killing a human.

What family does the cheetah belong to?

FelidaeCheetah / Family feline, (family Felidae), any of 37 cat species that among others include the cheetah, puma, jaguar, leopard, lion, lynx, tiger, and domestic cat. Cats are native to almost every region on Earth, with the exception of Australia and Antarctica. They are carnivorous mammals that live in a wide...

What is a spotless cheetah?

A spotless or golden cheetah in Kenya. ... The “golden” cheetah's telltale spots are bizarrely diluted. “Scientists believe it is a 'morph' due to a recessive gene and not an albino or leucistic variation which makes this cheetah, like the king cheetah of South Africa and Zimbabwe, extremely unusual.

How do you play cheetah?

2:277:06How to play as a Cheetah | Game of Life - YouTubeYouTube

How long have cheetahs been alive?

The cheetah is considered one of the earliest divergences in felid evolution, about 8.5 million years ago, compared to the large cats of the Panthera group, which still shared a common ancestor about 6 million years ago.

What is a cheetahs lifestyle?

Cheetahs are tolerant of a wide range of habitats including shrublands, grasslands, savannahs, and temperate to hot deserts. Cheetahs largely stay on the ground but are known to climb trees on occasion.